Hi Mrs Moo,

In october i did the trek and before we started i stayed at the comfort Inn…….MMMMM very interesting. I found the rooms dirty, the shared bathroom accomodation disgusting and the breakfast VERY ordinary, in fact it should be named the "uncomfort Inn". I had no choice as the tour group i went with had this place for our pretrek gathering. My tent and the campsites we were at along the track were much better !!

On my return, i booked myself in at the Airways hotel – VERY NICE INDEED, get yourself an "ORCHARD ROOM" and live it up after you have done the trek – you will deserve it. They even took me to the airport in a merc – whooo hooo. The Airways is really close to the airport and they do have shuttle busses to and from, they even shuttle you to where ever you want in moresby basically, dont know if thats a normal service or they just did it to me cause im such a nice guy !!!

The Comfort Inn do have a shuttle to the airport but DONT GO THERE – ITS A SHOCKER !!!

Hope this message recieves you BEFORE you leave

Aussie

Hey nettie,

so you survived, sounds like your flight schedules were a nightmare. Im booked for the early morning flight coming home and have to get back to perth, i will spend a night in brissy though so i have all day to get back !!!

What about going over, was that "on time". I might be cutting it fine as my flight is scheduled to get to PNG at 1pm and we have a gathering at 2pm Mmmmm, oh well, they will jus have to wait or start without me……perhaps they can let me jump from the plane !!

so it was hard eh, looking forward to reading a full "wrap up" of how it went.

Home just in time to see the eagles pounce on port tonight in the finals !!! Ahhh, weres the Lions in september !!!! Anthony, i assume you shall shout for our team as yours have FINISHED for the year !!

catchya

austin

hey jafa,
with regards travel docs and other important things, the guys im going with give us a safe to put all our unwanted gear and things in the place we stay the night before we leave. We then return back to the same place once we finish for one night. perhaps the guys you are going with offer the same service !! It would not be a good thing having to carry important docs like them on the trek.

Your trek is coming up, not long to go now eh, from memory you a doing it in early october aint you ? I think im going a few days after you

hows your training going, mine has been going well, im actually scaling down a bit now as i dont want to overdo it, down to 2 long (3hr) hill treks a week, will do this till the end of next week and then only do 2 short treks perhaps on more forgiving country till i leave, my fitness levels are not going to get any higher from now till i leave and i dont want to get an injury this close in.

Have you had to buy a new belt yet ??

will not be able to make the essendon game this weekend, bummer, kids have their last game and windup this sat and because im their "supercoach" (u11's) i must attend, the eagles will have their hands full this weekend i think, but hopefully will come out on top.

Wonder how nettie is doing on her trek, she would be in the thick of things by now

catchya soon

austin

Jafa, I to have been carrying more than what i should be. After a couple of weeks i have decreased the weight in my pack dowm to about 12kg – the weight i anticipate carrying. Dont want to overdo it and perhaps injure myself.

Its at the stage now that im fit enough to do the trek and all i need to do is basically maintain my level. All the hard yards have been done.

Yeah, like the look of your tent jafa, already got mine and pitched it a few times, only takes me 4 mins to complete the tent pitching process !! the pegs are lightweight alloy and if we need to pitch in hard clay IM IN TROUBLE cause i aint taking a hammer !!

Was lucky to get in touch with a fellow trekker who will be in my group and with a bit of luck i will catch up with him before we leave, it will be good to see a semi familiar face on my arrival !!!

only 46 more sleeps !!

and yes jafa – go you eagles, we are gearing up very well for the finals series – SHOULD BE AWESOME

And by the way, Meri, very encouraging post !!!!!

Austin

Hi david,

skins are excellent as they stop any chaffing. Ive been told that in humid temperature, chaffing is easier to occurr therefore, skins would be beneficial. I use mine (long and short) all the time at home and they not only help in chaffing but assist in recovery after a long day on the trek. They are light weight and crunch up to nothing.

I spoke with a chap who has just completed the trek and of all the people in his group, he was the only one that didnt have caffing problems, why, because he was the only one wearing skins !!

hope that answers your querry

austin

ha, great look nettie,

are you taking your ipod on the trek with you, cause i was thinking of doing it.

the fish oil tablets should take effect (if they do) after about 4/6weeks from when you start taking them. You should take two tablets for the first month then back off to one tablet thereafter. They dont always make a difference and each person is different. ive been taking joint formula (glucosomine) for some time and have not stopped taking it just to see if they are doing anything for me. After taking them for about 4/6 months you should stop for a while just to see if they are actually doing anything – the same applies to fish oil

yeah, had my injections and my arms are really really sore !! was going to do a 2 hour trek this arvo after work but i think i will give my arms a rest, i hope they get better tomorrow – Im such a whimp !! very low pain threshold here.

found out today that "my mate" who was going to come with me on the trek has pulled out. i suspected that he would and am not suprised, so im going solo, yyeeeehaaa

your trek is coming up nettie, you must be getting excited. ive been keeping an eye on the weather in moresby of late and it seems to be warming up a little, high 20's low 30's. we have been having maximum temps for the last 6/8 weeks of between 13 and 18 degrees – MMmmm thats going to be different !!

keep training and keep focused

austin

Hi Nettie,

yes kokoda day would have been something, especially if you have a family member who was so closely involved. The CD would be great to see so yes, i would love to have a copy of it. Can you believe its only 2 and 1/2 weeks for you to be there WOW !!

those that i have spoken to also say that the trek is a life changing experience and is very very difficult, so i think were in for a good adventure. You gotta give me the details of your dads plaque and i will look out for it when i go through, that would be special.

message for anthony – im going to convert and become a lions supporter !!!!

catchya

austin

am having hell's own problems getting thermals, every man & his dog must have bought them in the cold snap here, and the only size I can get are HUGE,

have you tried Ranger camper – oconner on stock rd – you are in perth arnt you !!
was in this store last week and it seemed that thay had lost of thermals. I already have skins, both short and long. I will definatley be using my shorts each day as it eliminates chaffing but think the longs would be great for night time use. They are very light and pack very small so i will take them as well.

good luck with that.

WOW end of this month eh and you will be there – fantastic

catchya

aussie